Evil dragon has a warm heart-Chapter 109 - 108 The Difficult Path of the Rat

Chapter 109: Chapter 108 The Difficult Path of the Rat

Chapter 109 -108 The Difficult Path of the Rat

Russell did not leave Fluorescent Castle empty-handed; the baron and his wife had prepared a whole carriage full of supplies for him to take back.

Among them was a large batch of Magic Elixirs for Russell’s upcoming training needs.

“You just focus on your training, and if you need anything, just tell your mother,” said Lady Meryl as she carefully adjusted Russell’s collar. “Your father ennobled you as a lord and gave you the status of a noble. I have little to offer, but I can still afford your training resources.”

“Thank you, Mother. Your son will always love you,” Russell embraced Lady Meryl, and although there might have been an element of performance, it truly came from the heart.

Many noble families pass on resources to the eldest son while leaving the younger to make their own way in the world.

Not many are as genuinely caring and generous to their younger sons as the baron and his wife.

After letting go of his mother, Russell turned to Baron Roman, who seemed also ready to embrace Russell.

But Russell just offered a slight smile and bowed respectfully to his father, “Father, I feel the same towards you.”

Baron Roman waved his hand dismissively, “You little rascal, off you go!”

The carriage set off, and Russell mounted his horse, closely followed by Kevin the Gold and Silver Wolfhound and the Red-eyed Rat King.

As they left the grand archway in front of the castle, Charles looked back at the towering fortress and couldn’t help but reflect, “Sir, the Fluorescent Fungi Family is the most loving noble family I have ever seen. The affection of the baron and his wife for you surpasses that of most parents in the world.”

“Yes, that’s how I feel too,” Russell looked up at the sky, where Mr. Ross was leisurely strolling above, occasionally chirping “tweet-tweet.”

He puffed out his chest and said, “That’s why I need to invigorate my spirit, manage Wuyao Snake Manor well, and guard the southern gate of the Glowing Valley. If Roland achieves something one day and the territory expands, I can lead the charge for him.”

“Do you hope that Mr. Roland will succeed in becoming a dragon rider?” Charles asked softly.

In his memories, the previous soul had complained many times to Charles about how for most of the time, he couldn’t see Mr. Ross from his room, while Roland’s room was directly opposite the tower that Mr. Ross favored for sitting.

Obviously, his predecessor was fixated on Mr. Ross and constantly dreamed of riding a dragon.

This was unsurprising, as who among the descendants of a dragon-keeping family wouldn’t regard riding a dragon as the pinnacle goal of life?

Even ordinary people would dream of riding dragons.

However, the current Russell, long since inhabited by a new soul, naturally had a completely different mindset.

He calmly responded, “Mr. Charles, you might not believe me when I say this, but as a younger son of the family, I’ve already received too much. The distinction of age is the foundation of noble succession, so I will no longer be envious of Roland.”

“I believe you,” Charles said with a smile.

Russell continued, “I truly hope that Roland can gain Mr. Ross’s approval and lead the Fluorescent Fungi Family to a higher standing. As for me, I have my own grand ambitions, and I am working towards them.”

“I believe you will achieve your grand ambitions, Sir,” Charles saluted with his hat while in the saddle. “And I am also willing to follow you and strive for your grand ambitions… I may not compare to Eric in combat capabilities, but please rest assured, Sir, I will manage the manor and its lands well.”

“Follow?” Russell caught the point of interest.

Charles replied candidly, “Of course, to follow you, to become one of your followers, that has always been my aspiration.”

He paused and then continued, “I just hadn’t found the right opportunity. Today, at this moment, as the sunset approaches and the afterglow blankets the earth, perhaps this is the opportunity I have long awaited.”

Ha-ha! Russell laughed out loud.

Charles then asked loudly, “Sir, do you need me to dismount and take an oath?”

“No need, Charles. The ceremony of loyalty for a follower is not about the outward formality, but about the heart. We have known each other for many years; you understand me, and I understand you,” said Russell, not stopping the caravan but drawing his Green Ceramic Sword.

He turned in his saddle and touched the sword to Charles’s shoulder, tapping three times on each side, completing a loyalty ceremony for a follower that was as simple as it could possibly be.

Having sheathed the Green Ceramic Sword,

In theory, Russell and Charles had now become true liege and follower, a bond that would be watched over by the Great Dragon.

The loyal shall share in glory,

The betrayer shall be spurned by the Great Dragon.

However, after the loyalty ceremony was complete, the understanding between Russell and Charles wasn’t affected; they were still able to tease each other and joke freely, more friends than lord and retainer, and if anything, Charles seemed even more at ease.

Before following them, he had felt a bit nervous, but now he was completely at ease.

He even started to joke about risqué topics, “The Swan Baron’s territory is perfect for raising cattle, which is why there’s a bullfighting competition by Swan Lake every year. It happens that Baron Kunbifu enjoys eating the bulls’ balls, so he decreed that the losers’ balls must be cut off and eaten…”

“And then?”

“Once, right after a bullfight, Baron Kunbifu suddenly noticed that today’s balls were rather small and asked why. Do you know how the servant replied?”

“How did they reply?”

“The servant said, ‘My lord, it’s not always the bulls that lose. Today, it was the bullfighter who lost…’ Hahahahaha…” Charles said, and couldn’t contain his laughter.

Although it wasn’t that funny, Russell laughed along anyway, “Haha…”

As the sun was about to set, two riders and a carriage finally hurried back to Wuyao Snake Manor.

Eric had been waiting in the manor’s annex the whole time.

Seeing Russell and his group return safely, he finally relaxed, “Were Kevin and the Red-eyed Rat King well-behaved all the way?”

“Don’t worry, they were both fine,” Russell understood his concern; after all, the Red-eyed Rat King wasn’t contracted yet and could potentially be treacherous.

“Good, sir, I shall take my leave now.”

“Don’t rush off; stay for dinner before you go.”

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“Yes, sir.”

During dinner, Russell made sure to give an extra portion to Kevin and Red-eyed, then arranged for Red-eyed to stay in a newly built rat house—right next to Kevin the Gold and Silver Wolfhound’s kennel.

When it was nearly time to sleep, before Russell had a chance to lie down, he heard Kevin barking outside.

Then Red-eyed also started squeaking.

“Let’s go down and see what these two fantasy beasts are up to,” Russell, not quite at ease, got up immediately to check on them outside.

Upon looking, he saw that, for some reason, Red-eyed had rounded up a few mice.

Being a fantasy beast evolved from a mouse and holding the status of a Rat King, it could naturally command ordinary mice to help it search for food.

However, Kevin clearly wasn’t happy about this arrangement and refused to let Red-eyed bring mice home, as it would disturb the environment of the manor’s annex.

“Woof, woof!”

“Squeak, squeak!”

“Alright, both of you knock it off,” Russell scolded the two fantasy beasts to keep them from fighting.

He then looked at Red-eyed, along with the few small mice trembling behind it.

The sizable mice that Red-eyed had painstakingly raised in the cavern had all been turned into dried mouse meat, hanging in the yards of serf households. Therefore, it had no choice but to muster a few inconsequential small mice from the vicinity.

“Red-eyed, do not lure mice into the manor’s annex; on the contrary, if there are mice here, it’s your job to drive them away,” Russell instructed.

“Squeak, squeak,” Red-eyed seemed reluctant.

As the Rat King, being unable to shelter even a few minions would leave it completely alone, without any entourage and devoid of dignity when venturing out.

Russell patted its head, “The thing is, there can’t be any mice in the manor’s annex. Of course, you’re the Rat King, ordering mice around is your gift, which I won’t curb. So, when you have nothing doing, I’ll allow you to go into the cavern and build your mouse squad.”

At the same time, Russell laid down three rules for Red-eyed, “But you must keep your minions in line, and all the mice in Wuyao Snake Manor, preventing them from damaging crops or stealing food… If you really need to eat, go find food outside the manor.”

“Squeak, squeak.” Red-eyed understood.

Then, with a bit of reluctance, it chased away the small mice behind it, watching them disappear into the night, feeling somewhat downcast.

Russell narrowed his eyes, suddenly realizing that he could perhaps make use of Red-eyed Rat King’s gifts, instead of merely having it prevent mice from stealing food.

“Red-eyed is the Rat King, after all… If I had an army of mice, not just in the cavern, but throughout the entire Glowing Valley…”